In Microsoft Excel, a program packaged with Microsoft Office, you can create databases of information and then make calculations, graphs and charts based on that data. It's a handy program to have if you need to create a budget for your business or financial projections for a business plan. The workbook is the file that contains all of the elements of your Excel spreadsheet. Don't confuse a workbook with a worksheet in Excel—the worksheet is an element of a workbook.

1. Load Microsoft Excel. Click the "File" or "Office" button (it varies according to your version of Excel) on the main menu. Select "New" from the list of options, which brings up a dialog box.

2. Select "Blank Workbook" or a similar option from the list of new file options—it commonly appears as an initial option in the dialog box by default. Click "Create" or "OK" to open the new Excel workbook.

3. Proceed to enter your data into the cells of the worksheets. Three worksheets will appear by default (in most versions). You can toggle between the worksheets using the named tabs at the bottom of the workbook.

4. As another alternative to opening a new workbook, click "CTRL + N" on your keyboard after loading Excel.

Tip

If you want to create a new worksheet in Excel, right-click on an existing worksheet (located at the bottom of the workbook) and choose "Insert." Select "Worksheet" from the list of options and press "Enter."

About the Author

Louise Balle has been writing Web articles since 2004, covering everything from business promotion to topics on beauty. Her work can be found on various websites. She has a small-business background and experience as a layout and graphics designer for Web and book projects.